Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-20
THE GERMAN ARMY.
TIE CRoUCHIEG TIGER READY on TEE
FRONTIER LINE.
Extraordinary Military Preparations
Turning Out the lien at All Hours
Of the hight.

I have spent the last four or FIVE days
in the west of Germany and in Alsace-
Lorraine. 1 nave been along the danger.
line of the frontier between France and
Germany. / have had an opportunity Of
talking with 4 large number OF people,
both German and French, and have
learned NOR, about the thoroughncss OF
the German military preparations than Is
generally known or suspected. | have
a,o been through Belgium, along the
lire Of the ruute whore it has been
Thought the German army might
march on its road to France
The city Of Antwerp, which lies in
the direct path Of thi, march, is very
strongly fortified. The Belciaus all be
Teve that their Territory viii be in dan
ger in the event OF p war between France
and Germany and are constantly
strengthening their foruhcstons IN the
of Antwerp. Ent II was
on the lire OF the FrancO-German fr9n-
tier tlat saw for the first time IN my
life IN army upon an actual war footing
The Germans are working there as hard
at this tma as If var were actually
declared. There Is toe slme ince>ant
dI.l. the same vigilance Of patrols,
and tine constant activity OF AN
army with dangerous enemy very
y .ar at hand. Metz IS one OF the most
etfongiy-ioItidol cities IN Europe. 1t IS
impresnab.c to-dly against any army
ihat Fraucs could bring against it.
haye been al. around this city, and have
been able 20 psss along under the fortj-
icai.ons and to note taeir multiplicity
and strength. No civilian has tae night
70 ascend even one Of tAc lowest OF the
batilaments. Only the mast trusted OF
the German superior officers nave the
privilege OF moving around freely
through these breastWorks. There arr
bat icw even ala0.g tie Gcrm1n officers
~ -ittz VINO know the exact character
and extent of these dclcIccs Metz Is
entirely surrounded by tremendous wails
OF ea.th and masonry, varying ia
thickness from thirty 70 SIXTY feet
Th- principal wall passes entirely
around the town III an IN
broken line, being pierced oaly by pa
sa2.s which cen be closed completely by
massive steel gates. These wells arr
strengthened ~ deep moais. There are
tiree meats passing eitiic.y around tn
city. These are from JWoLty 10 Thirty
feet wide. and are filed with water In
front of esch moat Is jrll.c OF loCsed
wood and q hodge row Of such strength
as to make an irAp ssible barrier without
rrJiug. THE c-1inunC of enc ilie Of
iclaclti2ns could only be done under
the couceotruel are of the lCt5 IN the
uo..u.oruooj and the further inlyiny
tei.8o.s. jhe passing of one barrier
would uo merely beginning
Ihe great hCiEat5 around Metz gre
covered E4th forts. There are nine ~
the immediate uu.hholAool. Ihc great
est heieat is ocoupie, Ly Font 50 Quen
tin. 1ls ie absolutely as iuplcgHablo
O., the heights at Ehrclbrelt,tcin. Oh the
EMne. TINS tort stands upon q nigh
p.ah which rises alone from a wide
stretched plain The PLAN is undula-
tae, green, and luXuriant in color
Tine height rises abruptly from this,
2 rocky mas, IS il were, spe-
ciallv prepared by the hand OF
nature for lortr SIS ID command
tie plain. With the tremendous arma-
mont attached to this fort no army could
approach Metz from France without
beng utterly destroyed, unless st QUEEN
TN should be- hEst sllenced or captured.
D. commands the country to the river
Noseile. Upon the right, between 1t
aad }letz, is the tremendous tort Of
Friedrich Earl, and upon its north is
Fort riapprviHo. In addition to these
forts, which absolutely bar the road
I,adlng 10 Germany, there Is no eleva-
ton near the city which is not occupied
by strong modern military defences.
once inside the city Of Metz YOU lind
di- ciphnc, hard work, and the resultSof
perl 81 military system. Fully half the
people Won see on the streets ere sol
c.ers. iu The city of Metz to day there
uc tventy-sx thousand men. Along
the frontier. in positions where they cau
be concentrated upon the border within
tHenty-tour nouns, there are over
two hundred thousand men. Ia
tine OF peace toe confinement
o. $50 large number oi nan
o. are ut b.ctz within such cireum-
s.ubod quarters would rmpiv result in
license, ldl,pl,s, and dissiI alton. But
there is nothing Of the sort to he seen at
t.tI. Che men are too constantly oe-
cg.ied. Ihe private soldiers are turned
GU. at + O'Clock in the morning. 1t IS
drl,l-drH from morning TIL nlS 1t. The
ia,u are marched and countermarched.
They are exercised in every form OF eyo-
luton which could be employed III
pctuaI war. The officers are con
SANITY securing tie country hunting
up ucw difficulties 10 teach their
men 81 overcome by preliminary
dr.. such discipline, sucl subordi-
I sti.n. d0 not think was ever surpass-
al Do ANY aruN The officers wear tEoir
uniforms constantly. 1t IS a Or,a,n OF
discipline, and cd the most serious
character. for them 20 appear M public
ia civilian dress. These oiaccfs have no |
time for ,ociI ho,pi.,l.aas. They never
make calls or accept invitations. except
anon. themselves. There I5 very litue .
entertaining even among the OTctrs GA +
tire BORA D. IAeyare too occupied vita F.
I cir military duties. in the pericctng OF
taIs tremendous military machine, /
watch elcl uly grows more and more /
Formidable.
Tine perfection Of the discipline Of the /
l.f~au army can only be- understood /
D., wm ..r1 as actual operation. To f.
leeiu Wltu. thc private soldiers are tho /
r.u. buy trained }. l.....iy IS Wei rs IN /